Top-10 Shortstops in Baseball (preseason ranks)

Shortstop, one of the most exciting positions on the field, occupied by some of the most exciting players ever to graze the diamond. Diving stops, over-the-shoulder throws, and incredible double plays have become normalcies for Players in the six-hole. While big-time home runs, and even bigger base knocks have given the Shortstop position the rights to some of the greatest hitters of all time. Today more than ever the Shortstop position is stacked with some of the league’s top talents on both sides of the ball, so today we count down the top 10 Shortstops in Baseball headed into 2023.

10. Free Agent, Jose Iglesias: 439 AB, 128 H, 47 RBI, 3 HR .292 BA, .708 OPS, 1.2 WAR

The veteran journeyman Jose Iglesias has been around the block a few times, spending a couple of All-Star seasons with the Tigers back in the mid-2010s before transitioning to one of Baseball’s best nomads. In 2022 however, Iglesias took off in a struggling Rockies offense ranking second in BAVG and third on the team in OBP. Iglesias batted constantly in the middle of the Rocks lineup supplying the team with big-time hits and getting RISP on the regular. He might not be the flashiest of names but Jose Iglesias is a good ball player and beyond that a damn good hitter. Though he may still be residing as a free agent, Iglesias is seen as one of the top names remaining on the market as Spring Training approaches, look for an infield-hungry club like the Red Sox to possibly make a run at the Cuban export.

9. St. Louis Cardinals, Tommy Edman: 577 AB, 153 H, 57 RBI, 13 HR, .265 BA, .725 OPS, 6.4 WAR

With one of the best gloves in the entire game, Tommy Edman turned himself into a top Shortstop in the game in 2022 (if he wasn’t already). Edman recorded a .994 fielding percentage at Short, that’s +.20 over the league average of .974, beyond that Edman committed only 2 errors throughout the course of the entire ‘22 campaign. It wasn’t just Edman’s stellar defensive play that got the 2021 Gold Glover a spot on this list. The former Stanford U product racked up 153 hits for the Red Birds along with a batting line of .265/.324/.400, while not outstanding, paired with his high-level defense Edmans offensive numbers make him one of the most reliable all-around players in the game. Look for Edman to continue his great play into 2023, entering a contract year it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Cards SS take another step this season.

8. Cleveland Guardians, Amed Rosario: 637 AB, 180 H, 71 RBI, 11 HR, .283 BA, .715 OPS, 4.2 WAR

One of the stallworths of the Guardians magical run to the AL Central crown was Amed Rosario who stepped in, becoming one of the best hitters in all of Baseball last season. Rosario batted .283 with a .715 OPS for the Guards while also leading the league in singles (145), triples (9), and coming in third in total hits (180). The former New York Met also proved to be much more than just a hitting machine for Cleavland, with +5 in fld% while committing only 12 errors Rosario proved himself as a solid all-around option in the 6-hole. 2023 should be a fun year for Rosario who is looking to get a big payday by years end, with an infield like the Guardians that boasts guys like Rosario, along with Jose Ramirez, and Andres Gimenez it will be fun to see how the young Shortstop works out this year.

7. Chicago White Sox, Tim Anderson: 332 AB, 100 H, 25 RBI, 6 HR, .301 BA, .734 OPS, 1.3 WAR

Tim Anderson has proven time and time again that he is one of the best hitters in all of Baseball, even after a “down year” in which the Tuscaloosa Alabama product batted .301 with a .734 OPS Anderson still ranks amongst the best Shortstops in the league. Despite playing in only 79 games last season the White Sox infielder proved to be a rock in the middle of the lineup earning his second career All-Star appearance. Sadly Anderson’s personal success did not mimic his teams success during the ‘23 campaign, the Sox finished at 81-81; second place in the AL Central. The teams stifling play has given way to rumors of a possible trade for Anderson, kicking off a rebuild on the South Side. Despite it all, Anderson will continue to put up eye-popping numbers at the plate wherever he may be.

6. Toronto Blue Jays, Bo Bichette: 652 AB, 189 H, 93 RBI, 24 HR, .290 BA, .802 OPS, 3.6 WAR

One of the best and most exciting young players in the game, Bo Bichette is coming off yet another season of high-level offensive production. The son of former Outfielder Dante Bichette, the junior of the two batted .290 with an .802 OPS all the while laying down 189 hits good enough for tops in the league for the second straight year. The Jays locked Bichette up to a 3-year extension through the 2025 season avoiding arbitration and locking in the second of their big offensive bats with Vlad Gurerro also being locked in until 2025. Coming into a year with big-time expectations for the Jays, it will look to be an interesting year for Bichette who will go for his third straight hits title in 2023.

5. Chicago Cubs, Dansby Swanson: 640 AB, 177 H, 96 RBI, 25 HR, .277 BA, .776 OPS, 5.7 WAR

The first of the offseason’s top Shortstops to graze this list, Dansby Swanson has been consistently viewed as one of the top all-around infielders in the game since being selected number one overall back in the 2015 MLB Draft. In seven seasons with the Braves, Swanson has accumulated a .255 BA with a .738 OPS, batting a much more solid .277 with a .776 OPS in 2022. However, it may just be the glove on his hand that has kept Swanson in the running as one of the best Shortstopś in the game over the past few seasons. Winning his first Gold Glove in 2022, Swanson held a .986 fld% and a +10 Rtot. Headed into 2023 in his first season in the Windy City, Swanson will look to take his game to the next level in a much less talented Cubbies lineup.

4. New York Mets, Fransisco Lindor: 630 AB, 170 H, 107 RBI, 26 HR, .270 BA, .788 OPS, 5.4 WAR

During his second year in the big apple, Fransisco Lindor may have solidified himself as ¨The Guy¨ in the Mets lineup. The four-time All-Star posted a batting line of .270/.339/.449 showcasing his slugging ability, knocking 26 homers into the seats at Citi Field and coming in top-10 in triples with five. Lindor’s defense was also nothing to scoff at, posting a .985 fld% with a +4 Rtot in nearly 1400 innings played the Mets Shortstop continued his reign as one of the elite Shortstops in our game. There is little question as to what we should expect from Lindor in 2023, nothing if not better productions should be surmised as the Metropolitans looked to regain a hold in the NL East and hopefully make it further.

3. Minnesota Twins, Carlos Correa: 522 AB, 152 H, 64 RBI, 22 HR, .291 BA, .834 OPS, 5.4 WAR

After one of the most turbulent offseason sagas in Baseball history Carlos Correa ended up right back where he started, playing Shortstop for the Minnesota Twins. In 2022, Correa batted .291 with a .834 OPS in 136 games played, additionally the now 27-year-old platinum glove winner held a .983 fld% committing only eight errors in 1200 innings. However, headed into 2023 with severe concerns about a possible chronic ankle injury it remains to be seen when and in what capacity Correa will play for the Twins this year.

2. Philadelphia Phillies, Trea Turner: 652 AB, 194 H, 100 RBI, 21 HR, .298 BA, .809 OPS, 4.9 WAR

Trea Turner signed an 11-year $300 Million dollar contract with the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, and deservingly so as the former World Series champion comes off of a career year in which he batted .298 with a .809 OPS racking up 100 RBI´s and nearly 200 hits for the Dodgers in 2022. Turner also lead the league in plate appearances (702) and At Bats (652) making him one of the most reliable players at the top of any team’s lineup in the entire game. Though Turner’s defense did take a step back last season, his offensive production was more than enough to keep him at the top of this list. Heading into 2023 it remains to be seen how the Phillies will utilize their new All-Star addition, however, a top-of-the-lineup spot (whether it be the 1,2, or 3 hole) seems all too likely for Turner.

1. San Diego Padres, Xander Bogarets: 557 AB, 171 H, 73 RBI, 15 HR, .307 BA, .833 OPS, 5.8 WAR

When Xander Bogaerts signed an 11-year $280 Million dollar contract with the San Diego Padres this offseason many called it an overpay stating that Bogaerts wasn´t on the same level as guys like Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, and Fransisco Lindor. However, looking closely it becomes at the more obvious as to why Bogaerts may just be on a higher level than all of the aforementioned. In 144 games for the Bo-Sox in 2022 Bogaerts batted .307 with a .833 OPS and an outstanding .456 SLG, ranking top-10 in hits and doubles in the AL. As Bogaerts looks to make waves in his new digs, expect the Aruban export to continue his dominance for many years to come as he attempts to solidify himself as the best Shortstop in Baseball.